April 29, 2008

I read Boardgame News regularly, and am a long time customer of Boulder Games. Ray Smith over at BN has recently interviewed Jim about Boulder, the game industry, and Jim’s most recent cause celebre, the fixing of discounts on prices among online retailers.

It’s a great interview and well worth reading. As for Boulder Games, it’s well worth your business.

There is an amazing amount of scholarship about an astounding number of things. When I was in college working on a thesis, I was almost overwhelmed by the number of books and journals on every conceivable subject. The net has made it worse. Or better, in a way.

For example consider the following:

It may come as no surprise to you that I don’t have any real knowledge of medieval textiles and clothing. As it turns out, however, my long time and dear friend Lisa Evans does. And her first piece of published scholarship on the subject is right here, published by Boydell & Brewer. It’s one of their Featured and Forthcoming books, appearing on their front page.

Lisa’s piece is entitled “The Same Counterpoincte Beinge Olde and Worene”: The Mystery of Henry VIII’s Green Quilt I don’t know what the mystery is, but I know Lisa reads the blog, and I’m sure she’ll be glad to tell you (and me.)

Seven years ago I received my first published work from Tor. This week Lisa received a copy of this volume in the mail, and is feeling the same thing. Maybe those senior to me in the writing business are no longer thrilled by that emotion – but for me, it has never gotten old.

Congratulations, Lisa. I’m sure this is the first of many. I raise a cup of tranya to your success. (Inside joke.)